EDITORIAL CHILDREN 3 | Editors’ letter 23 | A solid start Phoebe Arslanagic-Wakefield and Ben Lewing Joseph Silke 24 | Levelling up begins in the early years 4 | Director’s note Joanne Cash Ryan Shorthouse 25 | No child left behind 5 | Letters to the Editors Anne Longfield OBE 26 | The changing face of early childhood CHANGING FAMILIES Carey Oppenheim and 6 | A post-COVID caring revolution Jordan Rehill Sam Smethers POLITICS 7 | How have families changed? 28 | Bright Blue supporter Lord Willetts Graham Simpson MSP 8 | Learn to commit or quit 29 | Tamworth Prize 2020 winner Harry Benson Ollie Tinker 10 | Has liberalism eroded the family? 30 | Research update Peter Hitchens and Polly Mackenzie Joseph Silke FAMILIES AND THE STATE REVIEWS 13 | Stopping the rise in domestic abuse 31 | Remaking one nation Victoria Atkins MP By Nick Timothy Contents 14 | Crime is killing our capital Ryan Shorthouse Susan Hall AM 32 | TV 15 | Net failure The Mandalorian Miatta Fahnbulleh Joseph Silke 16 | Fewer births shouldn’t worry us 33 | Film Robin Maynard Bright Blue is the independent The Farewell think tank and pressure group INTERVIEW Alex Griffiths for liberal conservatism. 18 | Jesse Norman MP 34 | Climate change and the nation state Director: Ryan Shorthouse Phoebe Arslanagic-Wakefield and By Anatol Lieven Chair: Sarah Sands Joseph Silke Patrick Hall Board of Directors: Rachel Johnson, Alexandra Jezeph, Diane Banks, Phil Clarke & Richard Mabey Editors: Phoebe Arslanagić-Wakefield and Joseph Silke Design: Joseph Silke Cover design: Chris Solomons brightblue.org.uk Interview: Jesse Norman MP (p.18) No child left behind: Anne Longfield OBE (p.25) EDITORIAL PHOEBE ARSLANAGIC-WAKEFIELD & JOSEPH SILKE Editors’ letter Co-Editors Phoebe Arslanagic-Wakefield and Joseph Silke introduce this edition or the first time we at Bright Blue have position that reports of the family’s demise Director created, edited and designed much are much exaggerated, arguing that the of the Fof this magazine from home, instead modern family is actually a more important Early of our perch overlooking bustling Ludgate institution than ever. Intervention Foundation, also considers the Circus. Turning to consider the ways in which relationship between parents, highlighting The pandemic has forced millions of the family unit is imperilled and pressured, the profound and long-lasting negative Britons to hunker down in their homes and Chief Executive of the New Economics effects a hostile relationship between a thrust typically external activities inside. Foundation Miatta Fahnbulleh (p.15) couple may have on their children. Carey Parents have found themselves tussling points out that many families are facing Oppenheim and Jordan Rehill (p.26) of the for workspace at home, while wrangling serious hardship in the wake of the Nuffield Foundation agree that the quality children underwhelmed by their remote pandemic’s economic damage, and urges of family relationships is crucial to the long- lessons who miss their friends and don’t welfare reform in response. Anne Longfield term outcomes of children, and that public care to understand the intricacies of OBE (p.25), the Children’s Commissioner policy must support family relationships social distancing. Droves of adults have for England, is also greatly troubled by the regardless of family structure. abandoned studio flats and house shares to levels of child poverty in the UK, arguing Robin Maynard (p.16), Director of return en masse to their childhood homes for radical government action to assuage Population Matters, considers the question and bedrooms, where they must relearn to childhood deprivation. Joanne Cash (p.24), of children from an altogether different coexist with their parents. CEO of Parent Gym, adds that the pandemic perspective, arguing philosophically that On the other side of the spectrum, rather has starkly highlighted inequalities among we should simply have less of them and than being trapped with family members, very young children, as well as acting to embrace a smaller family model, for the sake many elderly parents and grandparents exacerbate the gap between children from of the environment but also for economic have found themselves isolated and afraid, wealthier and more deprived backgrounds. prosperity. with social contact confined to a kindly Alternatively, Susan Hall AM (p.14), Shifting the focus somewhat away neighbour dropping off groceries from a leader of the GLA Conservatives, urges us from children, Harry Benson (p.8) of the safe distance. Those with health problems to consider the pandemic an opportunity Marriage Foundation pops the question that mean they must shield are in the same to make London a better and safer place for of marriage, proposing a new ‘rule’ to help position. As winter marches on, these families — a chance to tackle violent crime. couples commit. isolated groups are beginning to wonder if Thinking about those for whom the Finally, we have an exclusive interview they will have to spend Christmas alone too. home and family may be a dangerous rather with Jesse Norman MP (p.18) on why The effect of the pandemic has, in part, than safe place, Victoria Atkins MP (p.13) negative campaigning isn’t for him, been a new emphasis on the family and argues that lockdown has importantly conservative values and the intellectual the household, but what is the shape of the raised the profile of domestic abuse, and tensions at the heart of the Conservative modern family, does it face existential threat that the way forward is the successful Party, and the effect that the pandemic has or is it more fundamental to the way we passage of the Domestic Abuse Bill through had on British society. structure our lives than ever? Parliament. We hope that this edition makes the In this issue you will find Mail on Sunday Sam Smethers (p.6), Chief Executive case that the benefits family confers on columnist Peter Hitchens (p.10) and Polly of the Fawcett Society, looks beyond individuals and society speaks for itself, but Mackenzie, CEO of Demos, debate whether COVID-19, asking whether the pandemic that it faces real threats that COVID-19 will liberalism has eroded the family — did is a chance to use policy to shift traditional serve to intensify and compound. liberalism sound the death knell for stable gender roles in childcare, or if it will marriages and families, or did it herald entrench them further and mothers will Phoebe Arslanagic-Wakefield is a much-needed freedom and equality? continue to do the lion’s share of child- researcher at Bright Blue and Joseph Silke Meanwhile Lord Willetts (p.7) takes the rearing. Ben Lewing (p.23), Assistant is the Communications Officer at Bright Blue 3 EDITORIAL SAM SMETHERS Director’s note Are conservatives falling out of love with merit? asks Ryan Shorthouse oris makes conservatives smile – not the meritocracy has come true. widely just because of his chirpiness, but his Harvard academic Professor Michael perceive Brepeated electoral success too. His Sandel is one such thinker. His new book, it to be refusal to take himself too seriously has won The tyranny of merit, attacks the rhetoric the fairest over voters typically put off by what they of rising – the very idea of the ‘American way of doing so, can still see as a stuffy, snobby Tory Party. Dream’ – that politicians of all hues now above inheritance especially, but also even But something gnaws. Today’s subscribe to as corrosive to human dignity need. From an early age, humans show a parliamentarians are Thatcher’s children, at and empathy: “These views about work and preference for fair inequality above unfair heart believing deeply in the enterprising self-help have implications for solidarity equality. And, in actual society, there is no philosophy she espoused – that hard work, and the mutual obligations of citizens. If ‘veil of ignorance’, as John Rawls invented; no matter your background, can yield everyone who works hard can be expected our differing contributions can be seen. success. The concept that our agency, rather to succeed, then those who fall short have There are some solutions. First, ensure than any privileges we were born with, can no one to blame but themselves, and it is that, culturally and economically, we as far and should determine our lot in life rests hard to make the case for helping them.” as possible better recognise and reward deep in the soul of modern conservatives. It a broader suite of meritorious activity – inspires, both personally and morally. From an early age, humans caring for the vulnerable at the start or The sense is that Boris has walked too end of their lives, most urgently. David show a preference for breezily through life, granted opportunities “ Goodhart, in his new book, neatly argues one after another, without much effort fair inequality above for better appreciation of activities from the and despite controversies that would be unfair equality heart or the hands, not just the head. career-curbing for most. There is resentment Second, that we do not make merit the towards someone who is seen to have This provides some intellectual heft sole determinant when judging ourselves gained the top prize by blagging and to the successful anti-establishment and others. It is perfectly possible to bantering. Though without his wit and campaigning deployed by the political have social arrangements where success charisma, his predecessor, poring over right recently. The out-of-touch ‘liberal in different domains is cultivated and papers when the rest of us were asleep, was metropolitan elite’ are denounced for celebrated, but those with different perhaps a little more deserving? sneering at the culture and concerns of priorities, capabilities and vulnerabilities are However, the very desirability of ordinary folk. There is little love lost here: also respected and looked after. Even within thinking through the prism of merit is the trends show that the highly educated ourselves, we can be both professionally now being critiqued, from communitarian are increasingly turning to left-wing parties, ambitious and civic-minded.